Queen writes message for Commonwealth relay

The Queen has written a message to athletes of the Commonwealth to mark the start of a baton relay around all its nations and territories before the Glasgow 2014 Games.

The note will be placed inside a specially made baton at Buckingham Palace today before it starts a 248-day journey around 70 nations and territories.

The Queen at her desk in Balmoral signing the note which will be placed inside the torch. Credit: PA

Her majesty wrote the note during her summer stay at Balmoral - but the contents will remain a secret until the Queen reads it aloud at the opening ceremony of the Games at Celtic Park on July 23 next year.